North Carolina State University has long had a commercial peach breeding program, but every now and then, a seedling emerges that may not have store quality fruit, but has instead good ornamental traits. Two of my favorites from their program are below. The first is Prunus persica ‘NCSU Dwarf Double Red’. I first saw this amazing plant when I was in school there in the 1970s. Maturing around 10′ tall x 12′ wide, it looks like a giant azalea on steroids when it bursts into flower in mid-March (NC). Interestingly, it comes completely true from seed. The second ornamental from the program are the ..read more

Arum ‘Chui’, a purported hybrid between Arum italicum (unspotted flowers) and Arum dioscoridis (heavily spotted flowers), is hard to miss as it puts on it’s early spring flowering show. Bothe leaves and inflorescences are heavily spotted on this excellent selection. This gem comes from UK plantsman extraordinaire, John Grimshaw. We’ll probably be chopping into our clump later this spring, in the hopes of getting this in nursey production. Arum ‘Chui’ The post Easy to Spot appeared first on Juniper Level Botanic Garden ..read more

Jeremy Schmidt’s amazing collection of Aesculus sylvatica, that he named ‘Sylvan Glow’ is looking quite spectacular in the early spring garden. The new growth emerges a screaming coral pink. Now four years old, it’s finally approaching 3′ tall. We’ve taken in few cuttings this spring, in the hopes we can get this to root, so we can share. Aesculus sylvatica ‘Sylvan Glow’ The post Sylvan Glow appeared first on Juniper Level Botanic Garden ..read more

While many people grow acanthus (bear’s breech) in their garden, I’m betting not many folks have grown the Syrian, Acanthus hirsutus ssp. syriacus. Frankly, we didn’t think this native to Turkey, Syria, and Jordan, would be winter hardy here, but after a decade in the ground, our specimen continues to be quite happy. This is a much smaller, more compact species that any of the others we’ve trialed. We’re still waiting on our first flowering, so fingers crossed for this year. Acanthus hirsutus ssp. syriacus The post From Syria with Serious Spines appeared first on Juniper Level Botanic Garden ..read more

Here’s a shot from JLBG this morning of the gardens in front of our Botanical Gardens and Nursery staff building…so many plants (Cercis, Phlomis, Agave, Yucca, Abies bornmuelleriana, Daphne, Chamaerops humilis var. argentea), so little time. The post As the garden awakens appeared first on Juniper Level Botanic Garden ..read more

Can you imagine living your entire life, looking forward to only one sexual encounter, which will only happen just before death? Such is the life of an agave (century plant). In botanical terms, this is known as being monocarpic. Growing monocarpic plants is the ultimate mixed emotional undertaking. It’s exciting to see them finally flower and hopefully set seed, but sad to know that this means impending death for non-offsetting selections, and starting over again with smaller plants in the garden with offsetting plants. With our extensive agave collection, we get to witness these amazing even ..read more

We caught a glimpse of our Carolina anole, Naomi Gamble, slinking down the green carpet last week, posing in the latest sheer, skin-revealing, summer design from the Yves Saint Laurent spring collection. What a fashionably sly creature. The post Modeling the latest in sheer design appeared first on Juniper Level Botanic Garden ..read more

We’ve played around with the mostly tender, African Iris relative of the genus Babiana for years. So far, we’ve tried 9 of the 93 species of Baboon flower with little success. The one that has survived in the crevice garden for five years is Babiana rubrocyanea, of which Doug caught this beautiful image last week. This is a tiny bulb, maturing at only 4″ tall. Babiana rubrocyanea The post Monkeying around with Baboon Flower appeared first on Juniper Level Botanic Garden ..read more

Trillium oostingii by Doug Ruhren Trillium season does truly start at the turn of the calendar year, in a small way one might argue, but indeed the earliest do start in late December and early January, just foliage at first but it is the mottled foliage of the sessile trilliums that is so beautiful. One such trillium which blooms in March is Trillium oostingii, the Wateree River toadshade. I’ve been very excited about it ever since I saw it last spring in the gardens of Juniper Level Botanic Garden. It’s a robust thing despite it being very rare in the wild. But then again there is little to n ..read more

Our Eastern US native sand myrtle, Kalmia buxifolia is a far cry from its better-known cousin, mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia. This is why for many years, it was placed in an entirely different genus, Leiophyllum. This more diminutive cousin prefers moist acidic sandy soils. Our collection from NC’s Brunswick County has made itself right at home and is in full flower, staring in mid-March. Sand myrtle has an odd, scattered range, from central Pennsylvania south to NC/SC, where it can be found in both high mountains, and coastal flatlands. The tiny evergreen foliage and growth habit is quite ..read more